Electric humidifier



April 28, 1931. M, KATZMAN ELECTRIC HUMIDIFIER Filed July 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 engi' f /N VEN To E' Filed July 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/TNEES EYE' yrimmed Api. za, 19,31'

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE lux kurzarm, or Unch, NEW Yom:

ELECTRIC HUMIDIIIER Application flled July 18, 1928. Serial No. 293,153.

ing the use of a container for the liquid to be vaporized, an electric heater. within the Cal container for vaporizing the liquid and an electric plug in the heater circuit movable at will into and out of electrical connection with the heater for energizing and deenergizing said heater.

The main object is to incorporate in the plug means for' automatically controlling the heater circuit as the temperature of the heater rises and falls above a predetermined degree and therebv to re of vapor liberated from t e liquid.

Another object is to incorporate in the plug a light-transmitting medium preferably as a part of the automatic circuit 'controlling means and to provide the lamp chamber with la light-transmitting wall through which the light from the lamp may pass for advertising purposes.

One of the specific objects is to utilize the lamp as a heater in connection with .a thermostatic switch in heat-receiving relation to the lamp and electrically,Y connected tothe lampv circuit and lto the plug circuit for controlling both circuits according to the temperature of the lamp heater.

It is well-known that in the storage and display ofcigars, tobacco and many other products it is necessary to keep .those products 'slightly moist to prevent deterioration from excessive drying and that it is equally necessary to avoid deterioration by an oversupply of moisture and one of the specific objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical and efiicient device adapted to be placed in any show case or storagechamber for such articles whereby the moisture supply to the interior of the case or chamber will be automatic and more closely regulated than has heretofore been practised.

Other objects and uses will be brough 4out in the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a humidulate the amount iier embodying the various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through theupper portion of the device taken in the plane of line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line 3 8, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken in the plane of line 1 -4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the heaters and thermostatic switch together with the circuits for supplying current to the heaters through the switch, the dotted lines indicating diagrammatically the outline of a plug in which the lamp and thermostatic switch are incorporated.

The device illustrated is adapted to be used in show cases and storage chambers for cigars, tobacco and the like for supplying the necessary moisture laden vapor to the interior thereof to be taken up by the various tobacco products to preserve the same against deterioration and comprises an electric vaporizer -1- and an electric plug -2- constructed and assembled in a manner hereinafter described.

The vaporizer 1 may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably similar to that shown in my pending application Serial No. 244,217, filed January 3, 1928, and comprises an upright frame -3-, a container --.4 for the liquid to be vaporized and an electric heater -5- within the container for vaporizing the liquid.

`The frame -1- comprises a base -6- having a cup-shaped top portion for receiving the bottom of the container -4- and permitting the latter to beremoved and replaced when desired, said base being provided with opposite upright standards or posts -7- having their intermediate portions connected to each other by a band which normally encircles the container -4- to assist in holding the latter in an upright position against lateral displacement.

The container -4- is provided with a removable top or lid -9- screwed thereon and adapted to receive and support the heater -5- within the container, said top or lid being provided with a vapor outlet -10- for discharging the vapor from the interior of the container to the atmosphere or into the show case or other chamber in which the device is placed.

The heater -5- is provided with terminals -11-, Figure 2, extending .through and above the cover -9- for electrical connection with the electric plug -2-.

The plug 2 is mounted upon what may be termed a bail l2- of the electric vaporizer for vertical and lateral swinging movement into and out of electrical connection with the terminals -11- of the heater and comprises sectional :block -13- of insulating material and a display case 14- of any Suitable material connected to forma housing for the electrical elements, presently described, and also to form a suitable case for the display of advertising matter.

The block ,-18- comprises, in this instance, a plurality of insulating sections -l5-, -15- and -15- arranged in sequence one above the other in the vertical plane of the opposite arms -12- of the bail *M and secured thereto by screws -16- or equivalent fastening means.

The lower ends of the opposite arms -12- of the bail -l2 overlap upon the upper ends of the frame posts -7- and are slotted vertically at -17- to receive pivotal studs 1S- on the upper ends of said posts, theslots -17- being of suilieient length to permit the plug -2- to be moved vertically into and out of electrical contact with the terminals -llwhile the pivotal pins or studs *l8- form pivotal connection between the bail l2- and posts -7 to permit the bail with the plug thereon to be moved vertically and then swung laterally to the positions shown by dotted lines in Figure l.

The lower insulating section l5- is provided intermediate its ends with parallel vertical openings --19-v for receiving and enclosing Separate pairs of spring terminals -20- which make and break contact with the terminals -11- of the heater -5- as the plug is placed upon and relnoved from a the container so that when the plug is in operative position the terminals +11- will enter the open lower ends of the sockets -152- and make contact with the terminals 20-.

These terminals 20- are entirely inclosed within the surfaces of the plug so .that when the latter is removed from the terminals -lland swung to one side as shown by dotted lines in Figure l the cover -9- with the heater thereon may be re'- nioved from the container and the latter refilled with liquid without danger of injury to the operator by contact with any part of the heater or any part of the terminal 20-.

Furthermore, when the plug electrically connected to the terminals -11- of the heater it will be impossible to remove th(` cover -9- from the container by reason of the fact that the bail is held against rotary movement by its pivotal connections -18- with the frame posts -7- and that the plug is held against horizontal turning movement by its screw connections 1G- with the bail while the terminals -llon the cover will be held against turning movement by engagement of the lower section 15 with the plug, all of which contributes to the safety of the device in the hands of careless or inexperienced users.

The intermediate plug section -l5 is provided intermediate its upper and lower edges with a horizontally extending channel or recess -2lforming a chamber for receiving an electric incidental lamp -22- and lamp terminals 2B- and -24, the terminal 523- being connected by a wire -25- to one pair of terminals 20- while the terminal 24- is connected by a wire -25- to the other set of terminals 20- An electro-thermostatic switch -2G- is mounted upon the upper intermediate portion of the insulating block -15 in heatreceiving relation to the lamp or heater -22- to be operated by the heat from said lamp as the temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined degree.

This automatic operation of the thermostatic switch -26- serves to control the circuits to the heater -5- and lamp heater 22 and in order that this result may be accomplished conveniently and economically one bar as -27- of the thermostat is placed in electrical contact with the lamp terminal -23- and both the lamp terminal -23- and bar 27- are secured by a screw 28` or equivalent fastening means to the insulating section -15.

The other thermostatic bar as -27- is secured by a screw-29- to the insulating block -15- so as to overlie one end of the bai` Q7- but is insulated from the bar -27- by an insulating bushing -30, Figure 4.

The free end of the thermostatic bar 2iand adjacent cooperative end of the b'ar -27- are both yielding, but are tensioned to contact with each other under normal atmospheric temperatures for closing the circuit through both heaters.

The thermostat bar -27- is electrically connected to its screw -29- which, in turn, is connected by a wire -Blto one of the terminals of a supplemental plug -A- of the main line circuit, the other terminal of said plug being connected by wire 32- to a screw -33- on the Yinsulating block 4--15-, said screw being electrically connected to the lamp terminal -24- by a bracket 311-` of electric conducting material, on which the terminal -24- 1s mounted and to which the adjacent end of the conductor is also secured.

It is now evident that the current Ifrom one side 31 of the line circuit passes first through the thermostatic bar -27 and thence through the bar -27- and lap supporting bracket -23-to one side of the filament of the lamp and thence return through the other side of said filament to the contact member -.2 1 to the other side of the supply circuit thereby energizing the lamp -22-'V during which operation the current will pass from the terminal -23- through the wire -25 and terminals -20- and 411- to one side of the heater 5 and return from the other side of said heater through the other terminals --11-y and 20- and wire 25- to the bracket 34r and thence through the wire -32- to the other sigle of the supply circuit.

In other words, when the plug -2- is in operative connection with the heater -5- the lamp heater Q2-will be connected across the liquid vaporizing heater -5- and in view of the proximity of the lamp heater to the thermostat the latter will be directly effected by the heat of the lamp and in case the temperature exceeds a predetermined degree according to the setting of the thermostat the bar -27- will be deflected out of contact with the bar -27- to break the circuit through both heaters -5- and -22-.

The free end of the bar -27- is tensioned to automatically spring away from the bar 27- but is held against said movement by an adjusting screw which also provides a simple means. for regulating the interval of time during whichV the contacts of the thermostatic switch would remain 1 closed for energizing the heaters -4 and With this close adjustment of the contacts of the members -27- and -27- it is evident that the heaters 5 and -22- may be energized for extremely short or longer periods according to the amount of vapor required to be discharged into the cigar or tobacco case or storage chamber for preservation of the contents thereof.

Under ordinary conditions only a small imperceptible amount of vapor is required to preserve the cigars and tobacco and under these conditions the thermostatic switch will be set by the screw 435- to automatically open as soon as suilicient heat is developed in the heater -5- to produce a slight and probably imperceptible vapor which escapes through the nozzle 10 into the case containing the cigars and tobacco or other artlcles to be moistened, it being understood that. immediately upon the discharge of the j vapor it permeates the whole interior of the ,case an thereby establishes a uniform amount of moisture for all of the articles therein, this vaporization being continued intermittently as the temperature of the lamp -22- rises and falls above and below that required for supplying the `desired amount of vapor through the energizing of the heater -5.

Display case separate sheet and placed behind but adjacent the plate -37- so that the rays of light may pass through both elements for advertising purposes.

The opposite sides of the case 14 are extended rearwardly between the o posite arms --12- of the bail 12- and adjacent edges of the insulating ,blocks -15-, -15- and -15- and held in place by the screws 1G- as shown more clearly in Figure 4, the sides and bottom of the case being perforated at -38- for Ventilating purposes.

' Operation When the various parts of the humidor are assembled for use the humidor with the water or other liquid to be vaporized therein is placed within the show case or other storage chamber forthe articles to be moistened and the supplemental plug A- is then inserted in a suitable socket of the circuit for the source of current supply under which conditions the current will pass through the thermostatic switch 26- to the heaters 5 and 22 thereby causing the heater -5- to heat the liquid to the point of vaporization and at the same time causing the heater -22- to impart some of its heat to the thermostatic switch the heaters and causing a repetition of the vaporizing by the heater -5-, these operations being repeated at more or less regular intervals until the liquid in the container -4-4 is exhausted or below the level of the level ofthe electrodes of the heater at which time the entire heating circuit will be broken by reason of the air gap which will then exist between the electrodes.

This intermittent opening and closing of the switch -26- produces a corresponding intermittent iashing of the rays of light from the lamp -22- through the display plate -37- which, therefore, becomes an attractive advertising medium and of considerable value in a device of this character in advertising particular brands of cigars or tobacco or other articles according to the wishes of the user.

When it is necessary to refill the container 4ethe liquid, the baill2- with the plug -2- thereon may be easily raised to disconnect the plug from the terminals -ll and then rocked laterally and downwardly to one side of the container thereby breaking the circuit through the heater 5- and permitting the cover -9- to be removed from the container for refilling purposes, it being understoodvthat the heater -5- will be removed with the cover and when so removed may be easily cleansed `from time to time without danger to the operator.

Although I have described the plug -2- as used in connection with a humidor it is evident that it may be used in connection with other'electric translating devices without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the thermostatic switch 2G- maybe used in heat-receiving relation to any supplemental electric heater and that these two elements may be used in proximity to or remote from the heater -5- or any other electric translating device for intermittently energizing said device.

The primary object in using this automatic regulating couple, such as the thermostat -26-. and electric heater -22- is to render the control .of the electric water heater -5- or other electr/ic translating device more sensitively responsive to slight variations in temperatures vfor the reason that the thermal controlling means is not influenced directly by varying temperatures of the water. vIn other words, the water must be brought to thevboiling point or approximately 212 degrees before vapor c an be produced and one of the objects of this device is to control the supply of this vapor into the room or chamber in which the device is located after the liquid has reached its boiling temperature.

It will be also observed that the adjusting screw S5-constitutes a simple and etlicient means for establishing and maintaining a very close regulation of the amount of vapor liberated by the .liquid heater.

The same controlling device may, however, be used in the intermittent operation of other electric translating devices .without departing from the spirit of this invention.

WhatfI claim is 1. A humidifier lcomprising a container for a liquidto be vaporized having a removable stopper provided with a vapor outlet, an electric heating element suspended from said stopper within the container for vaporizing the liquid therein and provided with contact terminals accessible from the eXterior of the stopper, an electric plug movable into and out of Contact with said terminals for closing and opening the heater circuit and electro-thermostatic means mounted on the plug and deriving current from the heater circuit for automatically controlling said circuit as the temperature of the liquid varies from a predetermined degree.

2. The combination with an electric translating device, an electric plug of an electric circuit movable at will into and out of electrical connection with the translating device, an incandescing electric lamp mounted on the plug and connected in the plug circuit, a thermostatic switch mounted on the plug in heat-receiving relation to the lamp and electrically connected in the lamp circuit to control the energizing of said lamp as the temperature thereof rises or falls above or below a predetermined degree.

3. The` combination with an electric translating device, an electric plug of an electric circuit movable at will into and out of electrical connection with the translating device, an incandescing electric lamp mounted on the plug and connected in the plug circuit, a thermostatic switch mounted on the plug in heat-receiving relation to the lamp and electrically connected in the lamp circuit to control the energizing of said lamp vas the temperature thereof rises or falls above or below a predetermined degree, said plug constituting a housing for the lamp having a light transmitting wall through which the rays of light from the lamp may pass to the exterior of the housing.

4. An electric plug of an electric circuit movable at 'will into and out of electrical connection with an electric .translating device and provided with a lamp chamber having a light-transmitting wall through which the light from the lamp may pass and an electric lamp mounted in said chamber and electrically connected in the plug circuit.

5. In an electric humidifier, the combination with a container for the liquid having a removable4 cover provided with a vapor exit, a supporting frame for the container,

and an electric heater suspended from the cover within the container for vaporizing the liquid and rovided with terminals accessible from t e exterior of the cover, of an lelectric plug, a support for the plug mounted on the frame for sliding movement lengthwise of the container for moving the plug into and out of contact with the terminals, and means mounted on the plug for automatically controlling the heater circuit.

6. In an electric humidifier, the combination with a container for the liquid having a removable cover provided with a vapor exit, a supporting frame for the container, and an electric heater suspended from the cover within the container for vaporizing the liquid and provided with terminals accessible from the exterior of the cover, of an electric plug, a support for the plug mounted on the frame for sliding movement lengthwise of the container for moving the plug into and out of contact with the terminals, and means mounted on 'the plug for automatically controlling the heater circuit, said plug support with the plug thereon having an independent lateral swinging movement upon the frame when the plug is disengaged from the terminals to permit removal and replacement of the cover with the heater thereon.

7 In an electric humidifier a container for the liquid, a supporting frame for the container, said container having a removable cover, an electric heater suspended Afrom the cover within the container and provided With terminals accessible from the exterior of the cover, an electric plug movable into and out of engagement With the terminals and provided with a lamp chamber, and an electric lamp in said chamber yderiving current from the plug circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day ofJuly, 1928.

MAX KATZMAN. 

